Description of Lily 'Big Brother' Oriental Trumpet Lilies

Big Brother Lily is an Oriental Trumpet Lily, also referred to as a
'Tree Lily' because of its height, which can get up to 1.5m once fully
established. Although 'Big Brother' lily can get very tall, with blooms up to 35cm in
diameter, it very rarely needs support due to its sturdy stem. Big
Brother is one of the favourite lilies amongst lily lovers and these lily bulbs will
produce spectacular pale yellow, 6-petal blooms with a glorious scent.

How to care for Oriental Trumpet Lilies

Lilies can tolerate very
cold conditions but they do not like to get wet.

If planting in borders in
the garden, the soil must be well drained and, preferably, humus rich.

If planting in pots, make
sure lilies are kept moist but do not get waterlogged.

Lilies prefer to be planted
in a location with at least half a day’s full sunshine, if it’s a bit too
shady they will lean their stems towards the sun.

Lily bulbs do not like to
be dried out so they must be kept in soil at all times.

Try
to plant your lilies where they will dry out after rain to prevent
Botrytis, a fungus that spots the leaves. If you do see brown spots on
your leaves, spray with a fungicide recommended for roses.
If planting in pots, it may be an idea to tilt the pots on their
side in the winter to prevent waterlog.

When the Lily has finished
flowering, cut any seed heads back and allow the foliage to die back
naturally. Do not be tempted to cut the stem back until stems becomes
hollow and brown.

After a few years of
flowering, you may find the Oriental Trumpets Lily produces less blooms, it
may be time to lift your bulbs and divide them by breaking off the
bulblets. All the bulbs will then need replanting.

To prevent Lily Beetles from damaging your lilies, we recommend using the Lily Beetle Prevention Spray. This Spray (Grazers G4) will also stimulate growth of your lilies.

You can feed your lilies with a Tomato Feed to stimulate and strengthen your lilies when you start to see signs of growth. Make up your tomato feed with half the recommended dilution (written on the instructions on the bottle) and feed once every 3 weeks.